Final answer:
Vitamin B1, or thiamine, plays a crucial role in the body's energy metabolism by helping to burn and breakdown carbohydrates. It is required for the utilization of carbohydrates, maintenance of a healthy appetite, and normal brain metabolism. Thiamine functions as a coenzyme in oxidative decarboxylation reactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thiamine, or vitamin B1, aids in the body's burning and digestion of carbohydrates during the energy metabolism process. It is a vital nutrient needed for proper brain metabolism, appetite regulation, and the utilization of carbohydrates. As thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), thiamine serves as a coenzyme in oxidative decarboxylation reactions, an essential stage in the synthesis of energy.